Noseeums are a small blood sucking gnat which are prevalent along coastal territories and regions with a lot of water, dampness and marshland. Also known as Punkies, Black Gnats and No Seeums, these annoying tiny flies are very persistent and prolific. This article will highlight some basic biology about Noseeums and then offer treatment options so you can help to minimize the discomfort and unpleasantness experienced when noseeums are active in your yard.

Noseeums are small – usually less than 1/8 inch long – but pack a lot of bite for their size. Only females bite but since she needs several blood meals before she lays eggs, they seem to linger longer than other flying pests like mosquitoes. There are many species of noseeum which are found primarily along coastal water ways where marshland and swamps provide the damp, wet environment in which they like to live. However, activity has been found throughout the mainland as well. It is believed that populations have migrated to previously uninfested regions via plants, dirt and pots. Since noseeums can breed successfully in something as little as the soil of a small house plant in a pot, it has been concluded that they have easily been introduced to virtually any part of the United States. There are simply too many ways for them to find these remote areas and though certain conditions need to exist outside for them to live successfully, it is not uncommon for whole populations to find reproductive sites in the home. For this reason noseeums present a unique dilemma making them hard to control.

Noseeums will hatch in the spring emerging as both larva and adults. Adults will immediately look for a good blood meal; larva will spend their time in the wet damp soil growing through several stages. This growth could take as little as a month or more then six months depending on both region and species. Females need blood to start her egg laying and she will seek this food from birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and just about anything which is moving. Closely related to Moth or Drain Flies, Noseeums have a fairly delicate body type. They are easy to kill, not particularly strong and susceptible to many predators. However, what the noseeum lacks in physical presence it more then makes up for in sheer numbers. Noseeums are persistent and annoying. Their bite will cause all types of reactions which range from small swollen bumps to rashes. They are vectors of several diseases including Carrions Disease and Leishmania. For this reason noseeums are feared and rightfully so. Though the likelihood of getting a disease from them is small, the discomfort and pain their bite generates is more then any reasonable person likes to withstand. This is why noseeums are feared more then most any flying biting pest where they are present.

Noseeums are also referred to as No Seeums. This name has been acquired over time because of all the biting stinging pests, noseeums are amongst the smallest. However, they are commonly misidentified and many times blamed for bites or stings when nothing else has been found. There are several insects which could be the cause of such discomfort and if you are not 100% sure that you have Noseeums, you may consider reading up on some of these other prospective pests. The guidelines for trying to determine just what is doing the biting should be first broken down into one of two groups: they can only be either Crawling or Flying pests. There are many crawling and flying pests which could be responsible for bites and stings either in or outside the home. The way to tell what type is responsible is to see where and when the bites occur. If they only occur in one or two regions of the yard or home, you probably have a crawling pest. Flyers can strike from anywhere to anywhere; crawlers take some time to move about and generally will be located in one or two locations. When people and pets are removed from that location they don’t experience any bites or discomfort; as soon as they enter these areas they begin to get bit. Such is the main characteristic of crawling pests.

Of all the other pests you might have besides Noseeums, Thrips might be the most aggravating and common which are found biting people. Unlike most biting insects, thrips are not interested in blood. For this reason they are not targeting people due to CO2 or Octenol, two common gases people exhale which biting flies, mosquitoes and noseeums find attractive. Instead, thrips are attracted to wet, moist and damp surfaces like that of a sweating person. They thrive in mulch, flower beds and other damp areas where Noseeums can live as well. However, the treatments for either pest will vary. For this reason it is important that you know just which one you have. Only this knowledge will enable you to make the right decisions regarding which line of products to use and where to apply them

The next section of this article will detail products and treatments that can be used when combating noseeums. First, we will review repellents that can be used on people and premises; next we will detail treatment options which can be done to turf and adjoining property where activity is present.

Since noseeums are attracted to people for much the same reasons that mosquitoes are attracted to people, there are several repellents which can be used to help keep them away from people and property. Some can be applied to the turf, others are applied to people. The following is a compilation of products which have proven to help repel noseeums on and around the yard.

If you are planning a party or some outdoor activity, the use of some NOSEEUM REPELLENT is a good product to apply about 12 hours prior to the event. It works by releasing a slight odor barely detectable by people but one which b;as don’t like. Used a lot for repelling mosquitoes, this product won’t hurt children or pets and will last a week or two depending on local weather patterns.

Combine this with some Linalool Candles for superb control. Made with essential plant oils, these candles will effectively “block” you from biting pests like no-seeums. The burning process will release a nice odor to people which is citrus smelling. In the process the Linalool will permeate the area making biting pests like mosquitoes and no-seeums not able to locate targets. The SMALL CANDLE will last over 30 hours, the LARGE CANDLE will last over 65 hours and the JAR CANDLE will last 75-85 hours. Excellent for decks and patios, these candles can be brought on camping trips and picnics too.

If you experience bites or expect to be getting bit during a field trip or other outdoor activity, bring some STING RELIEF SWABS. This material will take away the itch from newly acquired bites and help deal with the condition until it heals.

Now to help promote healing, apply GENES SOOTHING CREAM to all damaged skin where noseeums have been active. Do this daily. Genes cream will take away all the bite discomfort and when used every day, promote healthy skin again.

Another great device for use out on decks, patios or just out in the yard are MOSQUITO BLOCKERS. These are unique repellers which works to “hide” people so noseeums are not able to find you. It releases a scent which works on No Seeums by confusing and taking away their ability to use their olefactory senses properly. By not being able to “smell” people, they are not able to track them down. Noseeums track people by detecting two gases we release called Octenol and CO2. These gases are exhaled when we breathe. As we sit outside exhaling, these gases will permeate out and flow with the local air current. They can be detected by noseeums as well as mosquitoes for over 100 yards. Once these biting pests get on the trail, they will follow it back to it’s source eagerly searching for a blood meal.

By placing these Blockers out slightly downwind from where you are sitting, noseeums won’t be able to do any tracking. Your exhales are basically being masked so you can sit outside invisible to the local biting insects like noseeums. It is important to understand that any noseeums which are close to where you first go outside will immediately be drawn to you since they are reacting to your visible stimulus and not your exhales. Once this first wave of activity ceases the Blockers will serve to keep new ones away. Be sure to turn them on at least 10 minutes before going outside to get maximum benefit. Also, be sure to keep plenty of BLOCKER REFILLS around so you can change them out as needed.

Another fairly effective repellent are the BUG BANDS which can be used on children and adults. They are light, barely noticeable and will confuse biting flies and mosquitoes so they are not able to find you quite as easily as normal. Though one will work well on either wrist, consider keeping one on an ankle as well if you will be wearing shorts.

A step up from the Bug Bands is the PERSONAL BITE SHIELD. This device uses the latest natural repellent which is basically comprised of plant oil. Several plants have a natural insect repellent and this compound has been identified and used in the Bite Shields. The device clips on your belt or can be set on a table where you are sitting. When turned on, the little built in fan will blow over replaceable cartridges which in turn will release the active repellent. This product will prove to work the best of all “natural” type products available. Cartridges will last a long time and their odor is barely noticeable and yet pleasant.

If you want to step up in strength to some true “chemical” repellents, there is always MAXI DEET. This is as strong as it gets; Deet has been proven to effectively repel all kinds of insects and it lasts a long time. We have some scented forms which are not as strong smelling as when Deet is used straight by itself. We also have low odor 100% Deet which is as strong as it gets. Use this on arms, legs, necks and anywhere No Seeums are landing. It will keep them off and away.

You can also treat clothing, equipment and anything else you are carrying on your person with some PERMETHRIN AEROSOL. This is another repellent which many insects just don’t like. They will avoid where it is found and combined with Deet will provide the best personal protection you can get. You can use this on inanimate objects since it will last longer then just deet – usually several days.

Since noseeums like to live where it is moist, damp and shady, there are many locations on anyones property which can serve as both a nesting and breeding ground for this pest. Unlike mosquitoes, noseeums don’t need standing water to reproduce. All they need is moisture. Though you may be subject to getting new ones all the time from surrounding areas like marshes, swamps and shorelines of rivers and oceans, keeping their populations in check on your property will benefit all who live there.

Since noseeums like to nest and live where food is available, once they start biting you on your property they will undoubtedly start laying eggs as close to you as they can. Such “pockets” of noseeums can present a major problem to anyone who walks outside. This is because adult females are poised and ready to feed once they become an adult. If they are growing elsewhere, the chances of you becoming a target are a lot less then if they are breeding right on your property. Furthermore, once they start to feed on your property, they will try to take advantage of any moist areas that can be found. Such areas include clogged gutters, mulch, wood chips, lawn thatch, dripping faucets, planters – both inside and outside, water in tires or other objects found in the yard, drainage ditches, sewers, leaves and just about any place on or close to the ground which is wet. If you irrigate a garden or grass, you have prime turf for noseeums to live!

The good news is that they are easy to kill. Though strong in numbers, noseeums are quite vulnerable to many products which can be applied to either the turf or the air. Deciding which to use will depend largely on just how much of an area you want to treat. If you reside on a small plot of land or if you have only a small area of land less than 1/2 acre which needs to be protected, you can consider the use of either CYONARA RTS or VEGETABLES PLUS PERMETHRIN. Both are odorless and work well on a wide range of insects. The Cyonara is good for yards 1/4 acre or less and it comes with it’s own hose end sprayer. The Permethrin will prove better cost wise if you plan on treating yards 1/4 to 1/2 acre or larger. Use a HOSE END SPRAYER to treat and be sure to focus your efforts where conditions are good for noseeums to thrive. Applying this product once a month will assuredly prevent any turf area from becoming a reproduction site.

If you have an organic vegetable garden and need to spray the plants directly, MULTI PURPOSE INSECT KILLER CONCENTRATE will do a good job. It mixes with water and should be applied with one of our PUMP SPRAYERS and can be used as needed. For large open yard areas, ORGANIC MOSQUITO AND TICK KILLER RTS comes with it’s own sprayer like the Cyonara. Just hook it up to your garden hose and you’re ready to go. Neither one of these organic products will last long so expect to do weekly treatments till the populations are knocked down enough to acceptable levels. Remember, these all these liquid options will be treating the ground and plants and not the air. This is particularly helpful if you know the problem is focused on your property. If you are not sure where they are reproducing or centrally located, consider volumetric or “open air” treatments.

Space spraying has long been the standard way to treat for mosquitoes and may be necessary for your noseeums problem. Since noseeums are able to fly, they may be coming to your yard for food and living directly alongside your land in wet, swampy conditions that offer shade and moisture. Such conditions, when large, are hard to treat with Permethrin as described above. To penetrate dense foliage or to cover large areas quickly, space spraying is the preferred method of treatment.

You may be able to treat small areas like this with an aerosol like PT-565 XLO. This product uses pyrethrum as the active ingredient and will kill noseeums quickly. Spray it around decks and picnic areas to provide yourself with a few hours of relief. It is easy to use and is great for around the garden, deck, patio or back yard area. It’s safe enough to be used inside the home too. Use it daily in any room experiencing problems. It just takes a second or two of release to treat the average room.

If someone has a “pyrethrin sensitivity issue”, then use a new synthetic called FLYING INSECT KILLER. It has a different odor and is definitely a “stronger” material for noseeums and has certain advantages. Besides using a different active, Flying Insect Killer is also water based. This means its ideal for indoor use as well. Water based aerosols are less likely to have a reaction with treated surfaces and if you intend on using either in the home, this could be a matter of consideration. However, either aerosol product is limited for small areas only.

Now if want something more “permanent”, install an AEROSOL MACHINE with some PURGE 3. These machines can be set to go off hourly, can be safely used in the home and won’t pose a hazard to people or pets. They’re ideal for ongoing flying pests like no seeums, mosquitoes, biting flies and gnats.

If the areas you want to treat are being used for something like organic gardening, you should consider one of our organic products. These products will not last as long residual wise like the aerosols listed above but they do provide quick relief from most any pest and can be used as needed since they don’t pose a hazard to people or the environment. We now have two options that work well for noseeums. For small outside areas like a deck or patio, ORGANIC FLYING INSECT KILLER is a good choice. It can be used inside and outside for space or open air spraying. If you are finding the noseeums only on your plants or in the house, get the ORGANIC HOUSEPLANT INSECT KILLER. It’s labeled to sprayed directly on the plant and can be used in the garden, in the house and pretty much anywhere you need to spray.

If you are treating a really large area, use a fogging machine like the FM6309. These machines are able to pump a lot of chemical over a large area in a short amount of time. They create a “fog” or “mist” which floats around plant leaves and other areas noseeums like to hide. This machine produces a cold fog which is adequate for most home owner applications. It is able to treat 1/4 to 1/2 acre in less than 20 minutes. (The machine will pump a gallon of material in around 12 minutes, but it takes extra time to drag the extension cord to new treatment areas.) If you have a lot of small areas to treat, you may prefer the FM6208. This fogger is a step up from the FM6309 because it has a volume control switch which allows you to adjust the rate of flow. It still uses electricity to power it, but unlike the FM6309 it has a rotation switch which can be set to off, low, medium or high. This can be a real help for two reasons. First, you are able to turn it keep it low when treating around the home and you only need a light mist. Such treatments can be tough with the FM6309 because it only fogs at one speed – high! When you try to treat alongside a structure, the fog is so strong it will bounce off the building and come back at you. If you have to do a lot of this type of fogging, get the FM6208. It not only lets you turn it down for these types of delicate applications but the rotating switch will let you turn chemical flow off. Though the machine is still on and trying to fog, it will quickly run dry. This is handy if you are interrupted during treatment. Simply turn the switch to off and let the fogger use up what’s in it’s system. Now you can store it for a few days without worrying about the insides getting clogged.

Two other models you may want to consider are the FM7807 and the MINI FOGGER. The FM7807 features the same controls as the FM6208 but also has a long extension. This extension is great for reaching high, under and around things which other machines have difficulty covering. The FM7807 also features a quick on/off control on the wand; great for when you need precise control of flow. The Mini Fogger is basically a compact version designed for the person who has only a very small area to treat. It can cover areas from 2500-5000 sq/ft very well. It uses electricity, has a volume control and a quart holding tank. Great for the condo or townhouse owner who has a small area to treat.

All these foggers are great for jobs around the home but they do require electricity and are not nearly as portable as the BACKPACK FOGGER. This device has over a two gallon tank and is gas powered. Perfect for those large jobs where electricity is not available. Simply fill up the holding tank, make sure you have enough gas in the tank and you can go wherever the noseeums may be hiding! Great for property where being free from electric cords is necessary or if you have a lot of areas to treat on a regular basis but need to move from one point to another as you treat.

Once you decide on which type of fogger will fits your needs, you will have to get some chemical. Use water as the carrier with these machines and try to reach as much of the shady, undercover where noseeums tend to nest. Though products like Malathion have been used over the years for such applications, you will achieve better results with Pyrethrum and Permethrin and they have little if any odor. PYRETHRUM 6% is natures own pesticide and is very active on noseeums. It will kill adults on contact and works on many other flying insects as well. As good as Pyrethrum is, it will not provide any residual. Mix PERMETRHIN in the tank for better results. Permethrin does not provide the quick kill like Pyrethrum but it does last from 1-2 weeks.

For sensitive areas around water ways, the ESSENTRIA ICis a federally exempt concentrate made from essential plant oils that’s both safe and effective. This mixture is very effective for flying pests like noseeums and can be used around boat docks, marshlands, streams, ponds and lakes without posing a hazard to people, animals or aquatic life.

For even longer control, add some NYLAR to the mix. This special material is a “growth regulator” which means it intercepts or blocks the development of certain insects like noseeums, gnats and black flies. In the long run, using Nylar will effectively be able to stop the noseeums from reproducing. It will also last long so new ones entering the area won’t be able to lay eggs that will prosper.

You can get a ready to use mix from us which is water based. AQUACIDE uses Pyrethrin as the active and that’s it; there is no component to provide residual protection. That means you’ll need to use it over and over. However, there are some situations which require a pyrethrin based product alone and if you have a small area to treat, Aquacide might be a good choice.

If you have larger areas to fog than an acre, you should consider moving up to a thermal fogger. Thermal foggers are “hot”; that is, they heat the chemical before it is released. This type of fog is lighter and comprised of smaller sized particles than that of a cold fog. This enables the applicator to cover a much larger area in a lot less time since you don’t have to make as much of an effort to get complete coverage. Air movement will help to carry and distribute the fog out to areas which are remote and hard to reach with a cold fog. Thermal foggers are more thorough during application and require an oil based formulation instead of water. The fog will stay in the air longer and penetrate more providing better performance than fogs created by electric machines. However, there are some tradeoff for this better performance.

First, machines are costly. Don’t waste you time with $100.00 to $200.00 units found at some hardware stores. These devices will create some fog, but the flow is so weak and slow you are better off using the PT-565XLO listed above. If you have anything larger than a few thousand feet to treat, these cheap machines are just not able to do the job adequately. If you have a large area that you want to keep noseeum free, invest your money with a machine that will do the job.

The GE THERMAL FOGGER is gas powered, electric start and lightweight. It can be carried easily to treat large areas or you can let it run out the back of your ATV or truck as you drive through the property you are treating. This machine will create a fog which is light, penetrating and very effective for blackfly control. Be sure to use the proper material when fogging to achieve the best results.

For any type of hot fogger, you’ll need some kind of OIL BASED PYRETHRUM to apply. This formulation will provide a quick knockdown of existing populations and can be used safely both inside and outside the home.

To save on costs, consider making your own fogging compound. This can be done by mixing either ESSENTRIA IC or CIRRUS to DEODORIZED OIL. This will prove to be the most economical formulation in the long run and probably a smart investment if you intend on treating large areas throughout the pest season. Like fogging with electric foggers you may need to treat twice a week initially to get control of bad problems. But once you knock down the local population, treatments will last longer allowing you to space out the frequency to 1-2 a month.

In summary, noseeums can be a tough pest once active around your yard. To help keep them off people who are active outside, use any of the repellents we have featured above. If you want to control local populations which are breeding on or near where you are living, use some Permethrin. Fogging with any of the machines we feature is better suited for large areas since it will get coverage faster and more thoroughly. Remember to treat throughout the active season and you should be able to keep this persistent and problematic pest under control.

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Comments on NOSEEUM CONTROL

muriel maxfield @
6:52 am

Tech Support @
7:39 am

They can. But when it comes to pets, there can be many other pests that are doing the biting. Fleas, mosquitoes and gnats are usually on top of the list but some pets just get what we consider to be a “skin condition”. So before you conclude anything, we suggest you try treating their skin with some Melaluca Shampoo and Anti Itch Spray. This can many times stop them from itching and since you’re not seeing any bites, a good way to start when attempting to solve this kind of problem.

sidney @
6:26 pm

Tech Support @
10:31 pm

Did you read our article above? We suggest all kinds of remedies that can help in the home as well as outside in the yard. We have everything from liquids to fogging compounds to repellents. Review the article and click on the products where they appear “blue” to see more information on the specific product. This will help you decide which items will be best suited for your needs. And of course you can call at any time for more clarification if needed because we’ve got a lot of options and they all work well.

Donald @
12:02 pm

David Brown @
9:19 pm

I live on the west coast right on the water 15 ft. We have a roof deck that the no seeums are swarming us. Is there a safe spray that could be used at the ground level that would kill them? Would propane bug traps work?

Tech Support @
12:33 pm

In our experience, we’ve not seen any bug trap that can effectively reduce nuisance pests enough to show a positive result. In most all cases they will attract and trap some but because so many are attracted that miss the trap, in the end people in the area end up experiencing just as many bites as before. For this reason we have found the Mosquito Blockers to be a better way to keep them away. By using a special repellent scent, they can scare off many nuisance pests like mosquitoes, biting flies and noseeums.

But really the best way to handle noseeums around water and boat docks is to fog them with Exempt Misting Concentrate. This product is mixed with water and is safe enough to be used on boat docks and around water like streams, ponds and lakes because it’s made of essential plant oils. For the best results possible, this is the way to go. It’s mixed with water and can be applied with any of the fogging machines we have listed above.

Colleen Espersen @
11:08 am

Tech Support @
11:45 am

Any of the Aerosol Treatments shown above are ideal for inside the home. This includes the PT565 and the Aerosol Machines with Purge.

Here are links to these items in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!

james derry @
4:06 pm

We are building a house that is in an area that suffers a lot from No seeums (and other bugs). I found your article very helpful, thank you.

I was contemplating buying one or two gas machines that issue heat, CO2, light etc that attracts the bugs and then kills them inside the machine. I gather it takes some time to break the reproduction cycle but once you are on top of it, I believe they are effective. What is your opinion on these machines?

I am interested in the commercial fogger too as we have a lot size of about 2.5 acres but we have the rain forest (we are in Panama, Central America) right next door which clearly is a breeding ground too, so we would fog there too.

Tech Support @
4:56 pm

If you review our articles on gnats, noseeums, mosquitoes and other flying pests, you’ll find that we never recommend any device that “lures” biting pests into the areas you want to keep pest free. There are many reasons for this; here is the short list.

After selling these units for many years, we learned that yes they will kill all kinds of nuisance insects. But in no case were the customers happy with the results. They were seeing lots of dead insects but were still getting bit which was confusing to say the least. Remember, these units are supposed to attract and kill biting insect pests. Well, they definitely were good at doing this. So what was wrong?

Well, what we found is that in the end, the traps never achieved the goal of enabling the occupants of the property to go outside without getting bit as much as they were before having the units were installed. In fact, we found many cases where the properties seemingly got worse following the installation of these units. We concluded this happened because the traps were effectively “luring” bad pests onto the property.

So at this point we feel the only way these units should be used is if you can locate them far away from the areas you want to keep pest free. And what we mean by far is at least 1 acre. So if you can remotely locate 4-5 of these approximately 1 acre “surrounding” your home and then treat the area in between the units and the home with one of our fogging machines, you should be able to achieve positive results.

And based on the size of the area involved, I would suggest the Gas Powered Mist Blower and some Bifen to tackle the job. Treating every 7-14 days and maintaining traps strategically surrounding the home will no doubt decrease the biting pest population that will be active surrounding the home. So if you incorporate the traps in this fashion combining them with the fogging, I’m sure you’ll have positive results.

Kimberly @
11:43 am

Thank you so much for the info on this site… we have used pesticides on our yard because every time I go outside I get ate up by these little reddish orange flying bugs …I am the usual target and taking a few baths a day to kill the ones that were in my hair, etc. I have never seen these bugs before but then again it has been 2 years since we treated the yard last….I am so frustrated with these no-see-ums they love to bite me and definitely bite more than once…they love our pool too! I am going to try the products that were suggested thx again; greatly appreciate the information!

Stefanie @
4:05 pm

Scarla Armstrong @
8:30 pm

Thank you so much for the information! I live on a pond.. very moist area and the no seeums are terrible..I can just step out the door and I am eaten alive! My home is on approximately 1/4 to 1/2 acre of land…Backed up to the pond with trees, vines and just a swampy area…. I am thinking about trying the Vegetables Plus Permethrin… Would you agree or should I try something else? My goal is to get rid of them! They are such a painful nuisance! Keeping outdoor activities at a minimum! Oh.. and would planting eucalyptus or anything else help? Please help! I welcome any advice!

Chuck @
7:27 pm

I have a 1 acre property on the beach in the caribbean. No see ums are a problem when the wind is calm. I am considering getting a Solo gas powered sprayer and using a combination of Pyrethrum and Cyonara 9.7 to get both a quick kill and a week or more of staying power. Is this a good combination or do you have a better recommendation.

marc @
7:45 pm

Hi,
I am reading all of your info on various biting bugs etc. but now am more confused as to what is biting me. I live in central texas where its been really dry and hot and every time I go outside I get bit by bugs that I am not seeing. What do you think they are and what would be the best way to treat my property? Its a very small lot and no excess water standing anywhere. Please help. I’m tired of getting bit. Thanks.

Tech Support @
10:27 pm

I’d start by applying some Cyonara RTS over all of the property. Cyonara gets hooked to your garden hose, can be sprayed on turf, plants and trees as well as the home and works well on all biting pests. I believe this will help reduce the local population of whatever is biting and you can retreat as needed when they return. This would be a good choice if the property is 10,000 sq/ft or less.

But if the yard is larger, you should consider getting a Fogging Machine like the Fogmaster or Back Pack Mister.

In either of these units you would add water and some Bifen which is odorless, highly effective on biting pests and mixes with water easily. Bifen also goes a long way so it’s cost effective for large yards.

I use Bifen to treat about 1 acre it takes care of all my pests including gnats, mosquitoes, biting flies, ants, wasps and crickets. Either option will surely handle your pest and really it’s just a question of which will prove more economical to use which depends on the size of the property.

Barbara @
4:26 pm

I live on 5+ acres in central NH. It is very swampy all around my property. In the spring there is often standing water in the pasture. In addition to the Noseeums there are these small black bugs that swarm around my horses. Mid summer is the worst the horses stay inside the run in shed to escape the bugs and while working with horses the bugs swarm around people but do not seem to bite. They are vey annoying. Is this a type of noseeum is there any thing I can do to eliminate the problem that is safe for the horse people and other pets?

Tech Support @
7:36 am

All of the treatments listed above can be used safely around the horses and won’t be a hazard for people who come to the treated areas either. What you’re seeing is no doubt some kind of gnat most likely related to the moist area’s you’ve described and though some of these will bite or sting, many species will just fly around and at worse be nothing but annoying.

So if you want them gone, you can use any of the products listed above. Here is a brief summary of what I’d suggest.

For small areas you want to spray (10,000 sq/ft or less), the Cyonara RTS would work fine. Simply hook it to your garden hose and spray the areas you want to protect as often as you’d like. Once a week is good rate to start but if treatments last 2 weeks or more without the pests returning, you can wait that long in between treatments.

For larger areas, a fogging machine would be better suited. Either a small electric unit like the FM6309 or the Back Pack Mister can handle an acre plus and will enable the treatment to go quickly and efficiently. I’m able to treat my lot of almost 1 acre in about 10-12 minutes so they can really help.

In either machine you can apply Permethrin or Essentria IC. Both are labeled for use in areas where horses and other farm animals are kept and both are labeled for use on horses as well so they’re fine around the animals. No doubt the Permethrin would be the “stronger” of the two but we’ve seen great results with the Essentria which is made from food extracts making it extremely safe for sensitive areas. So go with either of these if you have a large area to handle and you’ll be able to keep biting flies, noseeums, mosquitoes and pretty much any flying pest under control with either.

timothy gamble @
2:31 pm

Tech Support @
5:40 pm

If you review our article above, you’ll see we have several options for use inside the home. All of these are “pet friendly” and won’t pose any kind of hazard to them or to people. These options are covered in the following section:

As you’ll see from the above section of the article, either the PT-565 or the Aerosol Machine with some Purge in it will prove to be the best way to go. These two options can be used inside the home even with people and pets present. My personal favorite is the Aerosol Machine since you only need to set it up and forget about it once programmed. If you place out 2-3 of these throughout the home, you can control any kind of flying pest problem with very little effort.

Abraham Kalderon @
10:10 am

Hello, I live in the center of the noseeums area and would like you to recommend an automatic fumigation system to control these little monsters. I would like to control 5 acres. I also have sand flies in an area of 10 acres that is a problem. If you want to torture somebody, this is the perfect place!

Tech Support @
10:46 am

For areas this large, an automatic system would not be practical. Remember, automatic spraying systems require the installation of tubing throughout the land as well as holding tanks and fancy nozzles. The installation cost alone would be so expensive and then on top of that cost, once the setup was installed the monthly maintenance would be time consuming. In fact it would be so time consuming, you’d need someone working on it at least once a week. This would prove expensive.

On top of these two main problems, when dealing with a land size like 5-10 acres we find that the problem nest sites tend to move around quite a bit. This means using a portable, mobile device is really the best way to deal with flying insects for large land areas.

So given the land size, we would recommend a Mist Blower. It’s easy to use, portable and fast. One could easily target the main nest sites as they appear throughout the season.

Micah @
12:53 pm

I have 5 acres that I need to treat for a variety of “No Seeums”. My concern is that we have 5 horses, 5 goats that graze on the areas that these annoying creatures are in. I am looking at using a fogger or mister, but I need to know what product to put in it that is safe for the animals to graze on after application. I am currently treating for an insane overproduction of stinging needle and other various weeds that have taken over the place since the last owner departed. Thank you.

Tech Support @
1:39 pm

If you read our article above, you’ll see there are two actives mentioned which are fine to be sprayed over edible plants without posing any hazard to people or animals. The first one contains a pyrethrin based active. It’s labeled for use on food crops and most any vegetable or fruit plant that yields a harvest people eat. This material would be safe enough for farm animals too and can be seen here:

Another safe option is the Essentria IC. It’s made with nothing more than food extracts and oils so it’s very safe as well. In fact, it’s labeled for use on farm animals like cattle and horses (for biting flies) and only the safest of concentrates ever gets this kind of labeling.

Lastly, I recommend going with the Back Pack Mist Blower for doing the work. I own one and use it to treat my 1 acre lot. Now clearly 5 acres is a bit more to handle but I know it can handle it.

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Steve Scaggs @
6:37 pm

I have a restaurant in South Florida on the intracoastal waterway that has a large mangrove area across the waterway. The noseeums are a problem usually around 5pm-8pm while customers are dining. How would you suggest resolving this problem? We can’t spray the mangroves unfortunately. Part of the restaurant is over the water on pilings.

Tech Support @
7:20 pm

I am painfully aware of this problem having traveled to FL many times and experienced the discomfort as a patron in many fine restaurants. I always felt if there was a way to eliminate the noseeums that thrive along these coastal settings, any restaurant would be infinitely more successful because I’m sure there are a lot of people that just cannot tolerate the biting, itching and relentless persistence these insects display when active.

And I’ve seen it at miniature golf courses, water parks, etc. and have long wondered why no one is taking action to control this annoying pest.

Then after doing a little research, I came to learn that for many years there really wasn’t a good effective chemical that could be used in these sensitive areas. Fortunately this has recently changed.

In fact you can achieve relief with a product that’s labeled for use in these areas but more importantly, it will actually work. Now I will stay its hard to say just how often you’ll need to treat but here are some guidelines that we’ve seen with previous users over the past couple of years.

So when you first start treating, you might have to treat daily until you reduce the local population enough to see longer periods of no activity than just one evening. And once that happens, you should be able to get several days in between treatments and depending on the region, maybe even a week or more.

Now as stated above, in the the past it’s been hard to locate anything labeled for use in these sensitive areas. But a few years ago some federally exempt food grade products hit the market and for the first time in over 30 years of having worked in the pest control industry, I was pleasantly surprised to find these products actually worked. You see, these actives have been around for awhile. Unfortunately, they’ve not been effective.

But after doing some testing, we found this new generation of products actually works well. More importantly, they’re labeled for use in the sensitive areas where you need them. In other words, they’re labeled for use around water, docks, etc. and that’s because the actives being used won’t pose a hazard to people, animals or aquatic life.

The other great thing about these products is that they can be applied as often as needed which means if you find you have to do a brief misting every day in between lunch and dinner, it’s alright. In other words, you won’t have to worry about over applying the product.

Known as Essentria, this product is basically a food grade insecticide so it has very little impact on anything other than insects. Now like many other products we sell, it’s a concentrate that’s mixed with water. So to treat, you’ll mix it with water and then use something like a FM6309 Fogging Machine to apply it over the landscaping (yes, you could spray it out as a liquid but applying it with a fogging machine is a lot better and cost effective too meaning it will cut down on chemical costs dramatically).

I would try to treat as much of the shoreline area as possible and when treating, I’d focus on any plant or low lying drain area where noseeums might be breeding. Remember, noseeums will take advantage of any moisture so pay attention not so much to the salt water that changes with the ebb and flow of the local tide. But instead, focus on any little water pools or damp areas close to and adjacent to the shore.

You’ll probably need 1 gallon of mixed solution to treat about 1/2 acre on average. This can vary depending on the thickness of the local vegetation but after doing a few treatments, you should get a feel for how much you’ll need, where the key spots are you need to treat, etc.

Oh, and one other good thing is that this equipment pumps material quick so you can apply a whole gallon in around 10 minutes. Now it is electric so you’ll need an extension cord but it can pump material quite a distance. Of course, you can get the motorized Back Pack Mist Blower which is more powerful and used like a landscaper’s back pack blower. No doubt if you’re treating 1 acre or more, this would be the way to go.

Give us a call if you still have questions or concerns but I’m sure if you take a proactive stance and start treating the exposed turf, plants and vegetation around your restaurant, you will be able to minimize the discomfort this pest can create for your customers and this alone can make your establishment stand out above all the others in the area if it’s free of noseeums. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 if you want to discuss this process further.

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JoAnn @
12:44 pm

We are in an RV park in a very beachy area for the winter. For the month we’ve been here the noseeums have been awful. They love me but not my husband. I have not been able to go outside. Which product would you suggest to use around our rv site? Is there something we could treat the screens with? Thanks for any help.

Tech Support @
10:03 am

Any of the products listed above can help solve your problem. The key will be to getting enough of the area around your RV treated so there is a significant “buffer zone” surrounding the RV and common ground of the park. Once this zone is put in place, the area can be maintained by you during your stay. Basically you’ll have repeat treatments during your stay and in doing so, you will be able to keep away noseeums, sandflies, mosquitoes, gnats and other biting insects.

Now as you’ll learn from the article, there are many treatment options available. The simplest approach will be to use the Cyonara RTS liquid spray. This can be applied to plants, turf, your RV, screening, etc. It will both kill and repel all insect pests and can be applied as frequently as is needed. Generally 1-2 treatments a week will be needed.

You will also want to use the PT-565. This is a space spray and though easy to use, treatments only last a few hours. So if you want to stay outside for awhile, treat the air around RV right before you want to be outside and you should see decent protection for short time.

Lastly, the use of a Mini Fogger with some Essentria IC concentrate or Permethrin would be the best treatment option. Our fogging machines use chemical quite efficiently so you tend to use a lot less fogging compared to liquid spraying. This way over the course of a few months, the machine will pay for itself. And since using it is both easy and much faster compared to liquid spraying, it will also save you time and energy too.

Now since you will need a concentrate to use in the machine, go with either the Essentria IC or the Perm 10. Both work well and both are safe enough to be used around any RV.
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mike mallette @
10:03 am

Tech Support @
10:07 am

If you refer to the article above, you’ll see the Cyonara RTS is the best liquid option. It hooks to your garden hose and can be sprayed safely on grass, plants, etc. Its also fine for use on the side of the home.

Retreat as needed; usually in the spring and summer you’ll have to treat 1-2 a week until you get them under control.